Today is a big day in our house – Katelyn is 9! Yeah, not quite sure how THAT happened. I know it’s cliche, but, she’s just growing up so fast … pretty soon she’ll be moving away for art school! Katey wants to grow up and be a photographer like me (well, she says, “an actual artist, too – you know, like with paint and crayons and stuff“), which just makes me so happy that she feels free to do something like that. Her favorite things include watching Dumbo (just like my brother, it was his favorite movie as a kid too) and reading (her latest book is an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland). And tonight, we’re celebrating with her favorite foods – nachos!

Just for fun, last night we went outside and did just a few “birthday pictures” to celebrate her last day as an 8-year-old. I think doing these annual pictures are so fun – it’s amazing how much each of the kids change from year to year.

Anyway, happy birthday to our beautiful eldest daughter, Katelyn Reese. We are so blessed to have your beautiful spirit in our lives.